NIBONG TEBAL – The Education Ministry (MoE) is paying due attention to the discussions to raise the salaries of teachers with higher academic qualifications as recognition.
Education Minister Fadhlina Sidek said her ministry takes the recommendation seriously and believes it must be in terms of qualification – meaning the integrity of quality and the teaching service – which is the MoE’s primary focus.
“We take the view (on the recommendation to increase the salary of teachers with higher academic qualifications) seriously, as well as the call for a salary increase for civil servants as announced by the prime minister, which will be the initial focus as soon as the national economy recovers.
“We are currently discussing (the recommendation) under the radar, also in the context of raising teachers' salaries and in terms of quality. This means the integrity of the quality and service of teachers is our focus,” she told reporters here today.
She was met after officiating the Seberang Perai Selatan Kita Madani Carnival in Sg Duri, here, which was also attended by Penang Information Department director Sabri Said.
Fadhlina, who is also Nibong Tebal MP, said this when asked to comment on a newspaper report about the government’s recommendation to raise the salaries of teachers with higher academic qualifications, as a form of recognition, to improve themselves, and to further strengthen education for the nation’s children.
The secretary of the Education and Human Capital Cluster of the National Council of Professors, Anuar Ahmad, is reported to have said that the current salaries of teachers with a master’s degree and a doctorate of philosophy are the same, and it is appropriate to review them.
He was also reported as saying that the government should provide incentives to teachers with higher qualifications so that they recognise the importance of continuing their education, not only to expand their knowledge but also to increase their salaries in their respective fields. – Bernama, May 27, 2023
